Deerfield Nature Park

Michigan may not be the covered bridge capitol of the mid-west, but it does have a number of covered bridges.  Some are old and historic while some are new and offer visitors the opportunity to see a replica of these quaint covered bridges from the “olden days”. 

A little Internet research revealed a covered bridge (not historic) in Deerfield Nature Park (about 6.5 miles west of Mount Pleasant in Isabella County, Michigan).  The 591-acre park has eight miles of hiking/biking trails. Trail maps show the location of the covered bridge (over the Chippewa River).  The park also has two swing bridges but our lack of time and daylight prevents us from hiking to them on this visit.

Today, it is all about finding and photographing the covered bridge.  We are told the bridge is about 3/4's of a mile down one of the trails.  We begin walking the Lewis Preston Trail (a two-track road).  Soon, we hear the rumblings of a small creek where a metal pedestrian bridge - the Lewis Preston Suspension Bridge - allows us to cross the creek without getting our feet wet.  

Lewis Preston Suspension Bridge

The trail splits and we keep veering right onto the River Loop Trail. The trail splits again and we continue veering right following the river.   It is along this section of the trail that we find a small seating area with a man-made water feature gurgling down to the river.  It is a peaceful spot but we can’t linger here very long.  We need to find the covered bridge before we lose our daylight.   

The trail splits again. I look to the right and there it is. We cross the covered bridge and spend about 15-20 minutes taking pictures and enjoying this peaceful scene. 

Deerfield Nature Park Covered Bridge

For more information about Deerfield Nature Park, click on the following link:

Deerfield Nature Park